Malden, Massachusetts: door-to-door solicitor permit

• The answer: Yes — a permit for each commercial canvasser or solicitor, plus a visible badge approved by the Police Chief (6.20.010). The code covers anyone paid to go house to house taking orders for goods or for services to be furnished or performed in the future, including home improvements (6.20.010).
• Where it comes from: The City Clerk. The sworn application is filed with the clerk, the Chief of Police investigates and approves or disapproves, and the clerk delivers the permit (6.20.010). The City Clerk's Licensing page has the Canvassing License Application and the CORI Request Form.
• Fee: $100 per commercial solicitor or canvasser (6.20.010); the application calls it a non-refundable fee of $100.00. Before the permit issues, each applicant also files a $1,000 surety bond with the City Clerk (6.20.010).
• Hours you may knock: The canvasser and solicitor section sets no hours (6.20.010). A separate section bars hawkers and peddlers from operating between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (6.08.040); it does not say it covers canvassers taking orders.
• What the rep carries: A visible badge approved by the Police Chief while working (6.20.010). Police may require anyone canvassing to produce the license (6.20.010).
• What takes the time: A sworn application with a 2x2 photo taken within 60 days and two property owners of the county as references, then a Chief of Police investigation; a disapproval comes within 30 days of application (6.20.010). The clerk's page asks for a CORI Request Form, the surety bond and four 2x2 photos.
• Code: Malden City Code, Title 6 — Business Licenses, Permits and Regulations, Chapter 6.20 — Business Permits (6.20.010 Permit required for commercial canvassers and solicitors), on the city's municipalcodeonline.com host, which shows no codified-through date.
• Worth knowing: Malden keeps a Do Not Knock Registry of homes posted "Commercial Canvassers and Solicitors are Prohibited." Permit holders must check it before canvassing and may not knock at any listed address; a violation is a fine of $300.00 per offense and/or a one-year permit revocation (6.20.010). Permits expire December 31 of the year issued (6.20.010).
• Read it yourself: Malden City Code 6.20.010 — Permit required for commercial canvassers and solicitors · Malden City Code 6.08.040 — Hawkers and peddlers · City of Malden — City Clerk Licensing · City of Malden — Canvassing License Application (PDF) · Malden Police — Do Not Knock Registry · checked 23 September 2026

Ask the clerk, and write the answer down:

• How long approval usually takes after the application and CORI form are filed
• Whether one $1,000 surety bond can cover a company's reps or each rep files their own
• Whether the city enforces any hours on commercial canvassers

Clerk’s name ______________ Direct line ______________ Date called ______________